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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Elaine

34 replies

CorrieQueen · 12/04/2011 18:58

Is it nice or dated?

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thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 12/04/2011 18:59

dated and not nice.

JemimaMop · 12/04/2011 19:00

I know lots of young girls called Elain which is the Welsh version and I think is very pretty.

notanumber · 12/04/2011 19:13

Elena is prettier and less dated, I think.

Elaines work in admin and have a fondness for bold prints.

collision · 12/04/2011 19:19

Dated!

Same ilk as Barbara or Rita or Eileen or Patricia.

Not pretty at all imvho

Elena is prettier but looks made up!

minipie · 12/04/2011 19:19

It is dated but also nice.

clayre · 12/04/2011 19:20

My sister is Elaine, she's 25 and works in social work!

Don't think I'd call a baby Elaine!

Toughasoldboots · 12/04/2011 19:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
CorrieQueen · 12/04/2011 19:34

Ooo not one positive comment! Ahh well! Thank you for your opinions! It's so hard to know what is actually a nice name and what just sounds nice to my ears Grin

OP posts:
burntsienna · 12/04/2011 19:59

Elaine is a name from the Arthurian legends, so as 'Arthur' has come into fashion again as a name, I can't see anything wrong with Elaine.

MelinaM · 12/04/2011 21:19

Definitely dated! Elin and Elena are nice[smile[

AuraofDora · 12/04/2011 21:23

elena
elin
are softer

illhaveashandy · 12/04/2011 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Emelene · 12/04/2011 22:14

Dated. Makes me think of a middle aged secretary, sorry.

Similar names could be Alana, Helen, or the very pretty Elena / Eleanor already suggested. :)

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 12/04/2011 22:30

The reason I don't like it is because it's the name of a girl who did unspeakable things to my boyfriend when I was 17. I'd still think it was dated, though.

Bucharest · 13/04/2011 08:11

Elaine isn't ready for a comeback, because she's younger in name trend terms than Arthur. Elaine will be back when Karen, Michelle and Julie are.

randomimposter · 13/04/2011 08:51

Dated IMHO.
LOVE Eleanor which is a classic.

TortoiseVEasterBunny · 13/04/2011 09:00

Interesting seeing what people think of my name!
But, I don't really like it. I always get called Laine. Or the E gets over pronounced Eeeelaine!

nobodysmama · 13/04/2011 13:07

I'm 30 and agree that it is a name more often associated with older people. I didn't like it when I was younger, although I don't mind it now.

I am very precious particular about how it is pronounced. I'm from Scotland and people there tend to pronounce it Ah-laine which really, really annoys me. I'm an Eee-laine!

myalias · 13/04/2011 13:12

Another EEElaine here - certainly not brassy, bit loud work in admin and have a fondness for bold prints. Who writes that load of tosh!!! Agree it is not a pretty name. I would have preferred to be named Eleanor.

TortoiseVEasterBunny · 13/04/2011 14:37

Nice to see other Elaine's. I'm 33.

pilates · 14/04/2011 18:41

Elaine - very 70's and not nice

How about Elora?

BikeRunSki · 14/04/2011 18:51

Is my niece's middle name. OKish.... hidden in the middle.

turkeyboots · 14/04/2011 18:56

Don't inflict it on anyone! I'm another Elaine...

iWILLdothis · 14/04/2011 20:00

Had a friend in primary school called Elaine....."Elaine the Pain who has no Brain"
But i still like it, fwiw.

TortoiseVEasterBunny · 14/04/2011 20:09

Elaine the pain went to Spain in an aeroplane, in the pouring rain, was washed down a drain and never seen again!

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